To many couples, following a romantic marriage proposal with a pragmatic discussion about a prenuptial agreement feels like you're predicting a divorce. But the conversation can have real benefits for the health of your union and your finances.

It's awkward to think about planning for how your marriage may end when it hasn't even begun. But as unromantic as a prenuptial agreement may seem, it can actually help you make your marriage more successful.

"To leave hundreds of millions of dollars vulnerable does not seem like a wise choice," says one matrimonial lawyer. Still, many of the rich and famous keep heading down the aisle without a prenup. It's a choice some eventually live to regret.

Modern couples are bringing more assets into their marriages -- and more liabilities too including credit card debt, student loans and mortgages. It may be unromantic, and the subject is fraught with emotional peril, but it's worth discussing: Should you consider a prenuptial agreement?